Umbrella

ABSTRACT

An umbrella having dome ribs which fold adjacent to the umbrella stick when the umbrella is closed. Resilient means are provided for biasing the dome ribs away from the stick to more easily open the umbrella.

United States Patent 1191 Wingen July 8, 1975 UMBRELLA [56] References Cited [75] Inventor: Wilhelm Wingen, Welmlingen, UNITED ST T S PATENTS Germany 3,467,1l5 9/1969 Brooks et al l35/25 R [73] Assignee: Telesco Brophey Limited, Montreal, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Canada 1,940,321 6/1970 Germany .3 135/25 R [22] Filed: Dec. 10, 1973 Primary ExaminerJ. Karl Bell [211 App! 423567 Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert E. Mitchell; Alan Swabey [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 11, 1972 Germany 7245328[U] ABSTRACT An umbrella having dome ribs which fold adjacent to U.S. Cl. the umbrella stick when the umbrella is cIosecL Resient means are provided for biasing the dome ribs Fleld 0 Search i i away from the stick to more easily pen the umbrella 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 976mm JUL 8 m: 8 9 3 46 7 SHEET 2 FIG. 2

UMBRELLA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an umbrella and more particularly to an umbrella of the type which can be collapsed to form a relatively small package when not in use.

2. Description of Prior Art One known type of collapsible umbrella employs a parallelogram frame structure to support the umbrella cover. This type of umbrella is easy to close since the dome ribs, forming part of the frame structure supporting the cover, are folded, rather than telescoped as in some other types of collapsible umbrellas. The umbrella is also easy to close since the dome ribs are controlled as to angularity by the parallelogram frame structure.

However, it is somewhat difficult to open, or more particularly, to initiate opening, of collapsible umbrellas employing parallelogram frame structures. One reason for this difficulty, is that the folded dome ribs, and the attached cover, make access to the main runner, used to open the umbrella, difficult. Also, because of the parallelogram frame structure employed, certain of the frame members, when the frame is folded, assume an almost self-locking position which does not facilitate initial opening of the frame. In order to open umbrellas of this type, the user either shakes the umbrella, or else manually moves some of the folded dome ribs, by their ends, away from the umbrella stick to both provide better access to the main runner on the stick and also to slightly move certain of the frame members to an easier-to-open position. These preliminary opening steps are however inconvenient, and, in the case of shaking the umbrella, not always successful.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the purpose of the present invention to provide improvements in the umbrella frame structure which make it easier to open collapsible umbrellas, particularly those of the parallelogram frame structure type. More particularly, the present invention provides for means which will automatically move member of the frame structure into a position more favourable for opening from an initial closed position; when restraints for maintaining the umbrella frame structure in a closed position are removed.

The invention is more particularly directed toward an umbrella frame having a stick and a runner on the stick. Stretcher members are pivotably connected at one end to the runner. A dome rib is pivotably connected, intermediate its ends, to the other end of each stretcher member. A strut is pivotably connected at one end to each stretcher member, intermediate the ends of the stretcher member, and at the other end, the strut is pivotably connected to the stick. Resilient means are provided, connected between each strut and dome rib, for biasing the dome rib away from the stretcher member when the dome rib is moved to a position substantially parallel to, and adjacent, the stretcher member.

The resilient means preferably comprises a link made of resilient material, pivotably connected at one end to the dome rib and at the other end to the strut. The link extends substantially parallel to the stretcher member but is bent away from it. Preferably, the link is bent away from the stretcher member adjacent its connection to the strut.

The strut is, at least in part, preferably U-shaped in cross-section, opening toward the link to receive it when the frame is in a substantially closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, it will now be described in detail having reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the umbrella in an open position;

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevation view of the umbrella in an open position showing it in more detail; and

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevation view of the umbrella in a nearly closed position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, the umbrella frame has a stick 1 composed of two sections, 2, 3 which telescope one into the other. Section 2 can be polygonal in crosssection and fit in a polygonal cross-sectioned bore in section 3 to prevent the sections from rotating with respect to each other. Alternatively, section 2 can have a longitudinal groove 4, in which an indentation 4' in section 3 is guided to prevent the sections from rotating with respect to each other. Section 3 has a handle 5 at its free end, and section 2 has a crown 6 at its free end.

The umbrella frame includes support structure 8" which has a plurality of dome ribs 7, each having a bracket 8 attached to one end. The dome ribs 7 are arranged in uniform angular distribution about the crown 6 but are spaced therefrom when the umbrella is in an open position. An umbrella cover 9, separate from the umbrella frame, extends over the dome ribs and the space between the dome ribs 7 and crown 6. The cover is attached to the crown 6, in known manner; to each bracket 8, by aid of a hole 10 in the bracket; and to each end 12 of each dome rib 7 by aid of a hole 11 in end 12.

The frame structure includes a stretcher member 15 pivotably attached at one end to a hinge point 13 on the leg 7b of each dome rib 7 near bracket 8. The other end of each stretcher member is pivotably attached as is well known, to a tie flange 16 on a main runner 14 which slides on the stick I. A strut 17 is pivotably attached at one end, as is well known, to a tie flange 18 on crown 6. The other end of strut 17 is pivotably attached to stretcher member 15 at a hinge point 19 intermediate and preferably approximately midway, between the ends of the member 15.

A link member 21 is pivotably attached at one end to bracket 8 at hinge point 20. The other end is pivotably attached to strut 17 at hinge point 22. Hinge point 22 is located along strut 17 a distance from hinge point 19 which is substantially equal to the distance between hinge points I3 and 20. Thus link 21 extends substantially parallel to stretcher member 15.

Link 21 is made of resilient material such as spring steel. The link is bent, at 23, near hinge point 22, to point toward cover 9 and away from stretcher member 15. The bend 23 is angular forming a peak or crest in the link.

Each strut I7 is preferably made from a channel member having a U-shaped cross-section. Each strut 17 is mounted with the channel open towards the cover,

facing a respective link 21, and sized to receive a portion of link 21 within the channel.

Tension loops 25 are provided, tying the central area of the cover 9, between crown 6 and brackets 8, to strut 17 just below hinge point 22.

The umbrella stick 1 has a locking key 26 for holding the umbrella in an open position, and a catch 27, between sections 2 and 3 limits the extended length of the stick 1. Catch 27 cooperates with a control collar 28 extending from main runner 14.

In operation, to close the umbrella, catch 26 is released, and main runner 14 is moved down stick 1. As the runner 14 moves down, the parallelogram structure, formed from link 21 and the section of stretcher member between hinge points 13 and 19, (forming the long sides of the parallelogram) and from the section of dome rib 7 between hinge points 13 and 20 and the section of strut between hinge points 19 and 22 (forming the short sides of the parallelogram), folds the dome ribs 7 in toward a position along-side stick 1. As the dome ribs fold in, the cover 9 is drawn into an annular fold R through the tension loops 25. As the umbrella nears this closed position, the bend 23 of link 21 nests in the channel of strut 17. This helps prevent any lateral movement of the links 21. Continued closure movement resiliently bias the links 21 toward a straightened position. When the dome ribs 7 are substantially adjacent and parallel to stick 1 the umbrella is closed and it is shortened, inserted into a case, not shown, and the dome ends can be tied together with a strap, not shown.

To open the umbrella, the case is removed and the ends of the dome ribs are untied. This now allows links 21, which have been previously spring-loaded, to automatically move from a somewhat straightened position to a bent position as shown in FIG. 3 thus slightly moving the dome ribs 7 away from stick 1. This provides access to the main runner 14 and also moves the hinge point 19, between stretcher member 15 and strut l7, slightly away from line T--T joining hinge points at tie flanges 16, 18. The umbrella can now be easily opened by pushing the main runner 14 up past catch 26.

While strut 17 has been described as being a channel having a U-shaped cross-section, strut 17 can also be a bar having a U-shaped cross-section formed in it only in the vicinity where link 21 abuts against it.

The link 21 can be given a light jog 29 adjacent bend 23 on the side of the dome rib as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3. The jog 29 is inwardly toward member 15. This prevents the cover 9 from being pinched during folding.

The struts 17 can be hinged to a secondary runner, not shown, sliding on stick 1 instead of tie flange 18 so that the main runner 14 could be moved down to the handle 5 without having to shorten the umbrella. In this case however, either or both runners are non-rotatably mounted on stick 1.

I claim:

1. An umbrella frame having a stick; a runner slidable on the stick; a plurality of dome rib assemblies each including a stretcher member pivotably connected at one end to the runner; a dome rib pivotably connected, intermediate its ends, to the other end of each stretcher member; a strut pivotably connected at one end to each stretcher member, intermediate the ends of the stretcher member, and at the other end to the stick; a link connected to the end of each dome rib and to a point on the strut member, the link member, strut member, stretcher member and dome rib member of each assembly forming a quadrilateral structure; at least one member forming said quadrilateral including means for biasing the dome rib away from the stretcher member when the dome rib is moved to a position substantially parallel to, and adjacent, the stretcher memher.

2. An umbrella frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means comprises the link being made of resilient material, the link pivotably connected at one end to the dome rib and at the other end to the strut, the link extending substantially parallel to the stretcher member, but bent away from it.

3. An umbrella frame as claimed in claim 2 wherein the link is bent away from the stretcher member adjacent the links connection to the strut.

4. An umbrella frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein the link is jogged, adjacent its bend, and on the side of its connection to the dome rib, toward the stretcher member.

5. An umbrella frame as claimed in claim 2 wherein the strut has means for receiving the link as the dome rib is moved to a position substantially parallel to, and adjacent the stretcher member, for preventing lateral movement of the link.

6. An umbrella frame as defined in claim 1, having a cover of water impermeable material supported on the frame, the central portion of the cover being attached to one end of the stick, and the peripheral area of the cover being attached to the ends of the dome ribs.

7. An umbrella having a frame and a cover as defined in claim 6, wherein each dome rib assembly includes an anchor thread attached to the strut member and to a portion of the cover between the stick and the dome rib for pulling down on the cover to furl it when the umbrella is being closed. 

1. An umbrella frame having a stick; a runner slidable on the stick; a plurality of dome rib assemblies each including a stretcher member pivotably connected at one end to the runner; a dome rib pivotably connected, intermediate its ends, to the other end of each stretcher member; a strut pivotably connected at one end to each stretcher member, intermediate the ends of the stretcher member, and at the other end to the stick; a link connected to the end of each dome rib and to a point on the strut member, the link member, strut member, stretcher member and dome rib member of each assembly forming a quadrilateral structure; at least one member forming said quadrilateral including means for biasing the dome rib away from the stretcher member when the dome rib is moved to a position substantially parallel to, and adjacent, the stretcher member.
 2. An umbrella frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means comprises the link being made of resilient material, the link pivotably connected at one end to the dome rib and at the other end to the strut, the link extending substantially parallel to the stretcher member, but bent away from it.
 3. An umbrella frame as claimed in claim 2 wherein the link is bent away from the stretcher member adjacent the link''s connection to the strut.
 4. An umbrella frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein the link is jogged, adjacent its bend, and on the side of its connection to the dome rib, toward the stretcher member.
 5. An umbrella frame as claimed in claim 2 wherein the strut has means for receiving the link as the dome rib is moved to a position substantially parallel to, and adjacent the stretcher member, for preventing lateral movement of the link.
 6. An umbrella frame as defined in claim 1, having a cover of water impermeable material supported on the frame, the central portion of the cover being attached to one end of the stick, and the peripheral area of the cover being aTtached to the ends of the dome ribs.
 7. An umbrella having a frame and a cover as defined in claim 6, wherein each dome rib assembly includes an anchor thread attached to the strut member and to a portion of the cover between the stick and the dome rib for pulling down on the cover to furl it when the umbrella is being closed. 